Amaroq
Cover me.
Primarina
QC: [3/3]
GP: [2/2]
[OVERVIEW]
High offensive stats, a great offensive typing, and an excellent movepool allow Primarina to serve as a dangerous wallbreaker, and a good defensive typing and nice natural bulk enable Primarina to find opportunities to switch in or to survive a hit from faster Pokemon and retaliate. As a result, Primarina makes an excellent check to Pokemon like Hydreigon and Mega Blastoise. Despite its many advantages, though, Primarina is held back by its Defense and Speed and thus struggles to check Pokemon that an offensive Water / Fairy type would normally match up well against. Mega Swampert outspeeds and OHKOes Primarina after Stealth Rock damage, Buzzwole does the same with Poison Jab, and Gliscor outspeeds Primarina and 2HKOes it with Earthquake after Stealth Rock.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Scald / Sparkling Aria / Hidden Power Electric
item: Choice Specs
ability: Torrent
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Primarina's strongest available STAB move with no significant drawbacks other than its accuracy. Moonblast is its secondary STAB move and balances power and accuracy; it can 3HKO even bulky Pokemon that resist it like Metagross and Volcanion and can effectively wear down Empoleon, which struggles to do anything meaningful back without Toxic or Knock Off. Psychic cleanly 2HKOes Amoonguss and Tentacruel. Scald is a more reliable Water-type STAB move and can also be used to fish for burns, while Sparkling Aria bypasses Substitutes, allowing Primarina to check Buzzwole more effectively, but requires the user to give up a move that has more consistent value. Hidden Power Electric serves as an alternative that hits Empoleon super effectively and allows Primarina to either 3HKO it outright or hit it once on the switch and 3HKO it with Moonblast later. It also 2HKOes Volcanion.
Set Details
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Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment and Choice Specs allow Primarina to maximize its wallbreaking potential. A Timid nature allows Primarina to outspeed everything up to neutral-natured base 70s like Adamant Metagross and Mega Swampert, whereas a Modest one maximizes damage. Torrent boosts the power of Primarina's Water-type STAB moves when it's at 1/3 of its maximum HP or lower. Primarina's defensive typing and natural bulk allow it to survive a large number of attacks and retaliate with a Torrent-boosted STAB move.
Usage Tips
========
Use Primarina as an early- or mid-game wallbreaker. Primarina is often free to simply click Moonblast, as the move has no drawbacks, nothing is immune to it, and most Pokemon that resist Fairy-type moves lack reliable recovery. Use Hydro Pump, Scald, or Sparkling Aria if the opponent is likely to switch in a sturdy Pokemon that resists Moonblast. Being locked into Psychic or Hidden Power Electric can often be problematic, but it is worth it in order to hit Poison-type or Water-type checks like Amoonguss, Tentacruel, and Empoleon. Take advantage of slow, bulky Pokemon that are threatened by Primarina's STAB moves, such as Hippowdon, Mandibuzz, and Swampert. Primarina has the bulk to take a neutral hit or two in order to remove a threat. It survives moves such as Krookodile's Earthquake and Mega Sharpedo's Psychic Fangs after Stealth Rock and can retaliate with the appropriate STAB move. Utilize Primarina's typing to create opportunities to switch in against Pokemon like Hydreigon, Mega Blastoise, and Infernape, but be wary of switching in repeatedly, as Primarina has no recovery and is easily worn down.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can provide entry hazard support help Primarina break walls more effectively. Krookodile, Nidoking, and Nidoqueen resist Poison-type attacks, are immune to Electric-type attacks, and can set up Stealth Rock. Metagross and Cobalion are immune to Poison-type attacks, resist Grass-type attacks, and can also provide Stealth Rock support. Klefki and Nidoqueen can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, respectively. Fighting-types can pressure special walls like Blissey and Empoleon. Cobalion checks Pokemon like Alolan Muk and Mega Beedrill and can break through Empoleon and Blissey with STAB Close Combat, while Primarina can lure Tentacruel and KO it with Psychic. Buzzwole functions similarly to Cobalion, although it lacks Cobalion's immunity to Poison-type attacks. Infernape can threaten Blissey and Empoleon and also snatch momentum for its team with U-turn, allowing Primarina to switch in freely. Dragon-types have good typing synergy with Primarina, resisting Electric- and Grass-type attacks, while Primarina resists Ice-type attacks and is immune to Dragon-type ones. Hydreigon can lure Blissey and Empoleon and KO them with Superpower. Latias can pressure Poison-types with STAB Psychic-type attacks and weaken or remove Steel-types with Hidden Power Fire or an appropriate Z-Move. Haxorus can hit both Steel-types and Poison-types with powerful Earthquakes. Steel-types cover Primarina's weaknesses to Poison- and Grass-type attacks, while Primarina can handle the Fire- and Fighting-type Pokemon that threaten Steel-types. Choice Band Scizor can provide Primarina with a safe switch via U-turn, threaten Primarina's counters with the appropriate move—Superpower for Blissey and Empoleon, Knock Off for Tentacruel, and U-turn for Amoonguss—and revenge kill faster Primarina checks like Mega Beedrill and Mega Aerodactyl. Klefki can provide Spikes support and use Thunder Wave to paralyze faster threats. Ground-types like Hippowdon, Krookodile, and Gliscor can take on Electric-types for Primarina. U-turn and Volt Switch support helps Primarina switch in more safely. Scizor, Mienshao, Mega Beedrill, Hydreigon, Infernape, and Raikou all make good teammates that can grab momentum and provide Primarina with free switches. Primarina is susceptible to all entry hazards. Teammates that can provide entry hazard control in the form of Rapid Spin or Defog can ease pressure on Primarina and improve its longevity. Latias resists Grass- and Electric-type moves and appreciates Primarina's ability to switch into Ice-type attacks. Tsareena also resists Grass- and Electric-type moves, can remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin, and can take on physical attackers, but it shares a Poison-type weakness with Primarina.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Ice Beam hits Grass-types harder than a neutral Moonblast and covers Amoonguss, which resists Moonblast. Energy Ball hits Empoleon neutrally and allows Primarina to win against Slowbro and Suicune if it switches in as they use Calm Mind, although Substitute + Calm Mind Suicune can stall out Energy Balls. Rest + Sleep Talk and a defensive EV spread can be used to take advantage of Primarina's defensive typing and natural bulk. Primarina's support movepool contains moves such as Toxic, Protect, and Encore, but other bulky Water-types tend to offer more utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Blissey**: Blissey is the bulkiest special wall in UU and takes a maximum of 37% from a Choice Specs-boosted Hydro Pump, although Hydro Pump has a chance to 2HKO if Primarina is in Torrent range. It can then recover off the damage and then wear Primarina down with Toxic or Seismic Toss.
**Empoleon**: Empoleon resists both of Primarina's STAB moves and takes neutral damage from Energy Ball.
**Tentacruel**: Tentacruel has high Special Defense and resists both of Primarina's STAB moves but must be careful of Psychic.
**Grass-types**: Amoonguss resists both of Primarina's STAB moves and can threaten Primarina with its STAB moves and Spore but must be wary of Psychic and Ice Beam. Like Amoonguss, Venusaur resists both of Primarina's STAB moves but must avoid Psychic and Ice Beam. Venusaur has more offensive presence than Amoonguss and can set up on Primarina or force it out with powerful STAB attacks. Celebi and Sceptile do not resist Moonblast, but they can force Primarina out with the threat of their super effective Grass-type STAB moves.
**Volcanion**: Volcanion resists both of Primarina's STAB moves but is weak to Stealth Rock and requires Sludge Wave, Bloom Doom, or a status move to do anything meaningful back.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Primarina's physical bulk is unimpressive, and its Speed tier leaves it prone to being revenge killed. Pokemon like Raikou, Mega Beedrill, Mega Sceptile, Magneton, and Celebi can force Primarina out with the threat of their super effective STAB moves, while strong physical attackers like Mega Aerodactyl, Krookodile, and Mamoswine can revenge kill it with some prior damage.
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